Religion Topicals

Here is an image of a stamp depicting a medieval driftwood crucifix from Alftamyri, designed by Þröstur Magnússon, engraved by Jean Pheulpin, and issued by Iceland on November 24, 1981 to commemorate the millennium of Christianity in Iceland, Scott No. 549, Facit No. 610.

- nethryk

In Japanese Buddhism, a kalavinka (aka karyobinga) is a celestial attendant who plays music, dances, and flies through the air. Kalavinka appear often in Buddhist paintings, murals, temple decorations, and on ritual robes. In pictorial representations, the kalavinka is usually given the head of a bodhisattva and the winged body of a bird, and its tail resembles that of a phoenix. Here is an image of an engraved definitive stamp depicting a kalavinka "bird" holding a bowl (full of gold nuggets?), designed after a Heian Era (12th century) bronze stylized garland, 28.5 cm in height, from the Chuson-ji temple of the Tendai Sect in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture, issued by Japan in 1966, Scott No. 890.

- nethyrk

In the Buddhist tradition, Maitreya is a bodhisattva who is foretold as a future Buddha of this world who will appear on Earth, achieve complete enlightenment, and teach the pure Dharma. Geumdong Mireuk Bosal Bangasang is a gilt-bronze statue of Maitreya seated in meditation, and is one of the best known and regarded Korean Buddhist sculptures. The statue is 83.2 cm (about 2'9") in height. It was cast from gilt-bronze, probably in the middle or late 6th century. The bronze is less than one centimeter in thickness, which attests to the skills of Korean bronze-workers during this time period. Here is an image of a definitive stamp depicting a detail from the Geumdong Mireuk Bosal Bangasang, printed by lithogravure, and issued by Republic of (South) Korea on February 15, 1965, Scott No. 362, SG No. 335.

- nethryk

In Japanese Buddhism, tennyo are celestial maidens, similar to western angels, nymphs or fairies, who appear often in temple sculpture, painting, and artwork. They come in various versions, with most playing musical instruments and painted in lovely poses on the panels of temple interiors and temple ceilings. Here is an image of an airmail stamp depicting an airborne tennyo holding a plate (full of treasure?), with two other tennyo playing long trumpets in the background, printed by photogravure, and issued by Ryukyus Islands on October 1, 1951, Scott No. C6.

- nethryk

I don't think treasure,
precious metals, and other desirous objects of mortal men
are not important to buddhist deities I should think
possibly a plate of flowers / petals?

rod222 - Or possibly some extra yummy fruit? Whatever it is, it must be pretty good stuff, by mortal standards, anyway. :) - nethryk

Here is an image of an engraved airmail stamp depicting a tennyo playing a flute, issued by Ryukyu Islands on August 1, 1957,Scott No. C11.

- nethryk

450 Years of constitutional history in the character of freedom of religion.
Peace was an intimate desire of people, especially the religions. However, there were often religious conflicts that led to peace violations in the history.

A bowl of fruit sounds nice....
even better, the fruit of knowledge.

Backstamped April 19th 1943....

A few with religious connotation from the U.S.

Washington at Prayer

The 150th anniversary of Washington's encampment at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania issued May 26, 1928.



Gutenberg Bible Issue

The 500th anniversary of Johan Gutenberg's printing of the Holy Bible issued September 30, 1952.



Bible, Hat and Quill

The 300th anniversary of the Flushing Remonstrance issued December 27, 1957.



Francis Scott Key Quotation

Issued to re-emphasize the ideals upon which America was founded and to honor those great Americans who wrote or uttered the credos. This credo stamp was issued September 14, 1960.

Psalmodist and minaret of the Great Mosque of Kairouan, designed by Tunisian artist Hatem El Mekki (1918-2003), printed by photogravure, and issued by Tunisia on October 25, 1976, Scott No. 693.

- nethryk

I Like his designs, an SCF member posted a thread on him recently.

Mount Rushmore

The "Jolly Corks"

Admission rules: "Be an American citizen, and believe in God"

Elks convention 1933